India put up a spirited performance before clinching the three-match series to beat hosts Australia 2-3 in the second women’s hockey Test here on Saturday.
Tatum Stewart (12th and 45th minutes) scored for Australia, while Pippa Morgan (38th) scored the other goal for the hosts.
Sangeeta Kumari (13th) and Gurjit Kaur (17th) scored the goals for India.
Thus, World No. 3 Australia has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Eighth-ranked India had earlier lost 2-4 in the series opener at the Met Stadium on Thursday.
The third and last match of the series will be played in Adelaide on Sunday.
Australia will also play an ‘A’ team during the tour of India, which has started its preparations for the Hangzhou Asian Games later this year.
Unlike the series opener, it was a far better and impressive performance from the Indians. It was a more cohesive effort from the Indians in all departments of the game, unlike the first game where they looked out of sorts.
After the defeat in the opening match, India went all out and attacked the Australian goal right from the start.
India did most of the attacking in the first two quarters, which resulted in a few good chances for the visitors.
India earned their first penalty corner in the eighth minute but Gurjit’s powerful flick was saved by Australian captain and goalkeeper Jocelyn Bartram.
However, it was Australia who took the lead in the 12th minute through a penalty corner through Stewart, who scored his first international goal, against a run of play.
India responded with a quick field goal. Salima Tete started the move from midfield and passed the ball inside the circle to Sharmila Devi, whose pass was deflected in by Sangeeta for her second goal of the series.
India continued in the same vein in the second quarter as the Hockeyroos barely managed to get inside the Indian circle.
India took the lead two minutes into the second quarter when Gurjit converted the second of back-to-back penalty corners.
Lalremsiami then came close to scoring in the 22nd minute but her reverse hit attempt went wide.
A minute before half-time, India secured another set piece but failed to make use of it.
After trailing 1–2, Australia made up for their poor first half performance as they looked more coordinated and purposeful after the change of ends.
Australia attacked the Indian defense in the third quarter and their efforts paid off as they scored two goals.
In the 38th minute, Indian captain Savita made a double defense in front of the goal but could not stop herself from missing a penalty corner. Morgan scored runs with a good variation.
Australia earned another penalty corner 38 seconds from the end of the third quarter, the resulting goal-mouth ball hitting Monika’s leg. Stewart made no mistake when he scored his second goal of the day to hand the hosts a 3-2 lead.
Searching for an equaliser, India attacked in numbers in the fourth and final quarter and had some great chances, even in the form of a penalty corner, but could not find the back of the net as Australia held on to a slim lead.